German goalkeeper who committed suicide in 2009 following a multi-year battle with depression. During his playing career, he found his greatest success with Hannover 96, where was twice voted Bundesliga's best goalkeeper. He grew up on a farm in Empede. He played in the youth system of Carl Zeiss Jena from 1986 to 1995 and began representing Germany at the Under-21 level in 1997.
